Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase Modulates Midgut Physiology in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Through miRNA Regulation: Insights from Small RNA Sequencing and Gene Expression Analysis
<i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes are critical vectors of arboviruses, responsible for transmitting pathogens that pose significant public health challenges. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a key enzyme in one-carbon metabolism, plays a vital role in various biological processes, i...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/644 |
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| Summary: | <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes are critical vectors of arboviruses, responsible for transmitting pathogens that pose significant public health challenges. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a key enzyme in one-carbon metabolism, plays a vital role in various biological processes, including DNA synthesis, energy metabolism, and cell proliferation. Although <i>SHMT</i> is expressed at low levels in the midgut of <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, its silencing has been shown to inhibit blood meal digestion. The precise mechanisms by which <i>SHMT</i> regulates midgut physiology in mosquitoes remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed small RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) following <i>SHMT</i> downregulation. We focused on a subset of DEMs—miR-2940-5p, miR-2940-3p, miR-2941, and miR-306-5p—to explore their potential biological functions. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the miRNA response to <i>SHMT</i> downregulation, we analyzed the expression levels of key genes involved in the miRNA biogenesis pathway. Our results demonstrated that several critical enzymes, including Drosha, Dicer1, and AGO1, exhibited significant changes in expression upon <i>SHMT</i> silencing. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms through which <i>SHMT</i> influences the biological functions and nutritional metabolism of the mosquito midgut. By linking <i>SHMT</i> activity to miRNA regulation, our findings highlight a potential pathway by which <i>SHMT</i> modulates midgut physiology, offering a foundation for future research into mosquito biology and vector control strategies. |
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| ISSN: | 2218-273X |